50 PROCTOR | August 2016
MitchellDownesBelindaBreakspearKirbyJukesTanyaStragusziAnnaMorganStephenGibsonVavaaMawuliLouiseHorrocksDavidMcKewinReneFloresTanyaSpinkaJessicaBaker
Melissa, who was also recently appointed as
practice group leader of the firm’s statewide
commercial team, has a strong background
in commercial and corporate advisory, with
wide experience in business acquisitions
and disposals, securities advisory, corporate
reconstructions, and shareholder disputes.
Fellow commercial lawyer and property
expert Miranda practices primarily in property,
leasing and commercial law, and has
advised and acted on behalf of developers,
government authorities and major private
and public companies.
Intellectually property expert Donna, a
registered trademarks attorney, has more than
a decade of experience advising companies,
government, start-ups, not-for-profits, and
individuals on their IP needs, including
copyright, social media and technology,
brand protection and enforcement.
Building and construction expert Gerard
is an accredited probity services provider
(procurement) and practises exclusively in
building and construction law. His client base
includes leading building, construction and
property development contractors, as well as
government bodies, major civil and building
contractors, consultants, project managers,
engineers and superintendents.
Mahoneys
Mahoneys has appointed Mitchell Downes
as a partner in its Brisbane office. Mitchell
commenced with the firm in 2009 in the
litigation and dispute resolution team. He
practises exclusively in commercial litigation,
with a focus on corporations and insolvency.
His other litigation experience includes
property, construction and body corporate
and management rights.
Maurice Blackburn
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers has announced
six new principals, including two from
Queensland, in its latest round of legal
promotions. Eleven of the 41 lawyers
promoted nationwide work in Queensland.
New Queensland class actions principal Vavaa
Mawuli graduated from Bond University in 2004
and spent the early part of her career working
in regional and remote areas in the Northern
Territory, providing advice and representation to
Aboriginal people charged with criminal offences.
From a third-generation farming family in
Gordonvale near Cairns, newly appointed
principal Tanya Straguszi heads up the
firm’s far north Queensland branch. She
graduated from the James Cook University
Cairns campus and joined Maurice Blackburn
in 2012. Under her stewardship the Cairns
office has grown to include two major
practice areas – wills and industrial deafness.
Rene Flores, who arrived in Australia as a
child refugee from El Salvador, completed
his degree at James Cook University. He is
a passionate road safety advocate and is now
a senior associate in Maurice Blackburn’s
Townsville office.
Lawyer Anna Morgan, who has built a strong
local profile as president of the Gold Coast
District Law Association and as an adjunct
teaching fellow at Bond University, has been
promoted to senior associate in the Southport
office. Anna also has a degree in psychology.
Seven other Queensland staff have been
promoted to associate positions: Jessica
Baker (Brisbane), Karla Deane (Brisbane),
Melissa Meyers (Rockhampton), Rachel Smith
(Brisbane), Sarah Webb (Caboolture), Stephanie
Francis (Brisbane) and Tanya Spinka (Brisbane).
McCarthy Durie Lawyers
McCarthy Durie Lawyers (MDL) has announced
the appointment of Stephen Gibson, a QLS
accredited specialist (property law), as a director.
Stephen has been with the firm for eight years in
the commercial law department. MDL has also
announced that Toogood Solicitors principal
Andrew Taylor has joined its Brisbane office,
together with his commercial team.
McCullough Robertson
McCullough Robertson has named three new
partners for the start of the new financial year,
all of whom began their career at the firm in
junior positions.
Belinda Breakspear, who started with the firm
more than 12 years ago as a vacation clerk, is an
intellectual property lawyer with a special interest
in trademarks. She assists start-up businesses
and publicly listed companies with intellectual
property disputes, passing off claims and the
protection, commercialisation, management and
enforcement of intellectual property rights.
Louise Horrocks, who started as a lawyer
in the commercial group more than eight
years ago, focuses on resources and energy
transactions, corporate restructures and
transaction taxes. She advises on unregulated
mergers and acquisitions, disposals and
establishing new ventures with advantageous
stamp duty and capital gains tax outcomes.
Kirby Jukes, who has practised in the firm’s
finance team for more than six years, acts
for major banking clients in commercial
real estate, development and construction
financing. She advises on project and term
financing and restructuring, security reviews
and assessments, stamp duty compliance
and enforcements and recoveries.
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